Water tank for concrete mixers



Dec. 11, 1951 W, NK 2,578,000

WATER TANK FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed July 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l GEORGE W. CRONK gwue/wbob Dec. 11, '195] G, CRQNK 2,578,000

WATER TANK FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed July 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G'- 3 'IIIIIIIII\ 'IIIIII// FIG-.4

GEORGE W. CRQNK Dec. 11, 1951 G. w. CR ONK 2,578,000

I WATER TANK FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed July 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

HIIIlI- 'line i4 of Figure '3.

Patented Dec. 11, 1951 WATER TANK FOR CONCRETE MIXERS George W. Cronk, East Orange, N. J assignor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,743

1 Claim.

This invention relates to concrete mixers, and

more particularly to a water tank for use in connection with such mixers.

An object of the present invention is t provide a relatively simple and inexpensive water tank structure for portable concrete mixers which embodies a novel type of means whereby the quantity of water in the tank may be easily regulated to a definite predetermined quantity so as always to have the exact amount of water available for the particular mix of the batch of concrete to be mixed, and to retain in the tank a definite predetermined quantity of water for flushing out the mixer for cleaning after the concrete mix has been discharged so as to prevent is so constructed and designed that tilting of the mixer will not afiect the quantity of water discharged from the tank.

The present invention is similar to and constitutes an improvement over the application Serial Number 587,528 filed by Henry Von Saspe,

now Patent No. 2,526,520, issued October 17, 1950.

With these and other objects in View, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction of and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a water tank for concrete mixers of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the improved water tank for concrete mixers.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the tank taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the tank with parts broken away and some parts shown in section.

Figure l is a detail horizontal section taken on Figure5 is'a' detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure '3 and showing a cross section through the sight glass assembly.

Figure 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section through the valve structure which controls the discharge of water from the tank.

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the valve structure, and taken at right angles to the section shown in Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the improved water tank for concrete mixers includes a tank or receptacle I, which is associated in the usual manner with a concrete mixing drum (not shown) and which receives a charge of water through the inlet 2.

The exact desired quantity of water required for any particular, or for each individual concrete mix or batch, plus a predetermined quantity of flush or cleaning water is provided regardless of the quantity of water in excess of the desired amount, in the tank I by the adjustment of the inlet end 3 of the flexible adjustable overflow member 4. The position of the inlet end 3 of the overflow member 4 is regulated by movement of the operating lever 5. The operating lever 5 cooperates with a graduated quadrant 6 to permit accurate regulation of the quantity of water in the tank I at each filling. To regulate the quantity of water in tank I, the lever 5 is set at the desired quantity indicating setting on the quadrant 6, which moves the inlet end of the overflow hose or flexible member 4 at the required level in the tank I, and any excess quantity of water delivered to the tank will flow through the overflow member 4 and out to waste, through the outlet 1. g

The quantity regulating means just above referred to is illustrated, specifically described and claimed in the application of Henry Von Saspe, filed April 10, 1945, Serial Number 587,528, now Patent No. 2,526,520, and will not be specifically described or claimed herein.

In the Von Saspe structure a partition is placedin the tank to provide a quantity of flushing or cleaning water, together with other features cooperating therewith, whereas in the present invention such a partition is eliminated together with the separate compartment formed thereby as well as other features which co-operate with the structure shown, thussimplifying and reducing the cost of, manufacture of the device, while retaining all of its advantages.

In the present invention astand pipe 8 rises from the center of the bottom 9 of the tank I to a predetermined height so as to cause the retention within the tank I of a predetermined quantity of water after the water for the particular batch of concrete being mixed has been withdrawn.

The discharge of water from the tank I is controlled by valves I0 and it carried by the valve structure [2.

The valve structure I 2 comprises a valve housing l3 having an outlet M which delivers water 3 in its top. The housing I3 is bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom 9 of the tank, on the outside of the tank and with a fluid tight seal l1 between the housing and tank bottom.

The valve I controls the flow of water through the opening l5, by co-operation with its valve seat 18 formedonthe topof the housing-Maud since the opening [6 eornmunicate with the interior of the tank I through the stand pipe 8, only that quantity of water above the upper open end-of the stand pipe 8 can be discharged through the opening I past the valve [0.

The valve I0 is carried by a valve stem H! which projects out of thehousinglliand ha'sfits outer end engaging the perimeter of-aeam--2-0. The cam 20 is carried by and rotates with a shaft 2| to which an operating handle irlsattached.

The valve l I, which controls the discharge from the tank I of the flushing or cleaning water; i. e. the water below the up'peropen end of the stand .pipet, 'co-operateswith a valve seat 23 'and is carried by a valve stem 24. The valve stem'24 extends through and proj ects out of the housing l2, 'and has itsoute'r' endin engagement with the .perimeter of a cam 25.

"Like thecamlZllfthe cam 2'5is .c'arrie'dby a shaft '26 which has an operating handle 21 therefon for" manually'operatingthe valve. Theshafts "2| "and26 are carried by'a suitable "supporting "Stiuc'tuf'e ZB'WhiCh is attached to th'e'h'ou's'ing [2 in any 's'uitabIe'man'ner such"asby'the'bolt '29.

The valves IO'a'n'dl l are urged upon their Seats 18 and 23*respectively, and the end of the"'valve "stems l9 "and' ZWareurgedhitoengagement' with the cams '20 "and25 respectively by springs'30, "housed in suitable sleeves 3l'formed withinthe 'l'iousin'g'l2. I v

With "the particular construction of the tank "or 'the present invention "only onergage. glass is required to provide visible indicationof'the'qu'ant tity-of water both formixingzand'flushing pur- -poses, and such" at'gage' glass is shown'at 32, and in'cross section in Figure "'5 .of the drawings.

*Onee'nd of the tank I' is'provided' with'an'indent e 33 extendingth'e iull'heightoi' thefta'n'k and -providin'g'a passage 34" which is *open at' its :bottom to the interior of "the tank 5 I "Ior'receiving' water. Strips '35 extend thefulflen'gth of theipassage ateach edge thereof andl'they h'ave a glass plate 36 "attached thereto, with suitable seals so that the quantity ofwaterw in 'theipassage tikcan "befeasilyseen. *Thec'over plate"31 of -the-glass plate'3'6 is graduated as'slio'wn' at 38t0 correspond with thegaliona'ge'content'ofithe tank l so' that,

by reading the height'of the water in thepassage 34 on the "graduations 38 "the "quantity of water 'in' the tank I "can be'readily determined.

By placingthe' openings [S'and I'Sat' the'center of the bottomof th'etank lithe "discharge of "water Iroin'the tank "will not be affected 'b'y Ttilting of the tank'asma'y occur"whenth'econcrete mixer (not "'shoWn) equipped "with the ta'nk .is standin'gfoni uneven-ground.

"Ir it 1s"so *desireda stoorest'l 0 for the overflow member 4 may'baprovided on the'sta'nd pipe 8. I Inoperatiomwitlrthe valvestructure' l2 closed,

thehandleS issetonthe scalefi so that the desired quantity of mixing water will be contained in the tank I between the top of the standpipe 8 and the overflow inlet 3. Water is admitted through inlet 2, the excess flowing to waste through the inlet 3. conduit 4. and outlet 1. When it is desired to add the mixing water to the xconcrete-.drlum.,. .the valve handle -22 is rotated 'sothat thelcam 2|Hforces the valve 10 of! its valve seat [8 and the measured water above the standpipe 8 flows into the housing I3 and thence outward through outlet H to the drum. After the drum-conte'1its have been discharged and iit-is-desired-to flushthe drum out, the handle 21 isturned so'that the cam 25 lifts the valve H oiff itsrsea't-fl. The water in the bottom of the tank I below the top of the standpipe 8 then flows "into the housing I3 and thence to the drum through outlet M. The handles 22 and 21 are then returned to the msitions illustrated in Figure 6.and the valves I0 and ll are seated so-that the'tank I may be re'fllle'drand the-cycle of operation reheated. "It will be seen that with .the described construction theusualflushwatercompartment is eliminated.

"It will be understood that the invention isnot fobelimited to'the specific construction oriarrangement ofparts shown, but that'they may be wide y modified within the invention defined by 'the claim.

What is claimed is:

In a water tank structure'forconcrete mixers. a water tank for containing aquantity of both batch-mixing water and flushing-waterra valve housing attached to the bottom .0! said tank andhaving-a pair of spaced valve seats in its upper surface, said tankprovided with openings aligningwith said-valve seats, said-valve housing havingv awater 0utlet, va1ves carried bysaidvalve "housing an'diseating upon said seats, means for .moving said valves .on toor off-of theirseats, an outlet standpipe "for-batch: mixing water surrounding one of .the-openings in'the bottom of "said ltank and extending upwardly a ,predeltermin'ed distanceiinto the tank whereby: a predetermined ouantity-diHfluShmg water will be detained in the tank after the valvealigning-with said stan'dpipe is opened to permit'the 'fiow of 'batch mixing waterifrom the tank.

' GEORGE W. CRONK.

REFERENCES CITED :The following :references are of 7 record in the ills 'of thisv patent:

UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "245,528 'Marchand Augf9, 1881 373,537 Smith Nov.'22, 1887 1,383,708 Farr July 5.01921 1,495,532 Rix lMay' 27, 1924 1,732,599 Hardesty Oct. 22,1929

795,431 Kirkpatrick -JMa'r. 10,;1931

"930,618 -Jones 'Oct. 17, 1933 2,316,132 Jaeger Apr. "6,1943

2,374,970 'Ball. 'May1, 1945 2,428,729 'West Oct. 7,194? 

